Uncategorized Archives ~ Happy Whimsical Hearts

Children’s Autumn books

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It still feels like Summer where we are.

We have had the hottest March in many years. And a run of 30 days with above 30 degree temperatures.

This means I am so very ready for Autumn.

I’m ready for the cooler days, the crisp mornings, the falling leaves and the scent of the leaves going back to the earth.

I am so ready for Autumn that I am willing it into being.

By shifting and changing to Autumn on our nature table. By setting out out Autumn children’s books.

Yet still the heat remains.

Even with the heat we are enjoying the return of some of our favourite books.

And I must say, it truly is wonderful to have our books reappear with the seasons ~ it brings another element to the changing seasons and the magic of that transition.

So I thought I would share what we are reading *smile*

Wild Child by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Greg Couch, is my favourite Autumn story to read to my children. It tells the story of a spirited Autumn child who isn’t quite ready for bed. Mother Earth tends to her wild Autumn child until tiredness comes.

Autumn by Gerda Muller is a wordless board book that truly captures my children’s imaginations. Ruby loves to tell her own stories with these books, while Teddy loves pointing to all the things *grin*

Wish Soup by Rachel Larmer and illustrated by Jo Lory is a beautiful seasonal treasury that we return to time and time again. You can read my review of Wish Soup here.

When the Wind Stops by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Stefano Vitale is a lovely story about how things don’t really end. Instead they change and evolve.

The Story of Little Billy Bluesocks by Sibylle von Olfers is a very sweet story about a little boy. It is innocent, joyful and fun!

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke is a story about change and how change can make us feel (and it has a lovely resolution).

We often keep some other favourites in our book nook too. At the moment we have Lilli-Pilli’s Sister, A New Day and Pip the Gnome.

And you can see our Easter books on Instagram.

What are your favourite Autumn books?

Warmly, Kelly

March 14, 2016 by Kelly

Audio stories for long car trips

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We recently drove for 8 hours to visit family. Such a long drive for our little people – let alone my husband and me. And the way we stayed sane was with audio stories.

A few hours whizzed by as we listened to The Story Tree. And as Jenni Cargill-Strong spun her tales the stories came to life in my minds’ eye. I pictured the children sneaking into Lily’s garden to help themselves to some delicious strawberries in ‘Lily and the Fig Tree’. A lovely story about learning to do the right thing, the importance of friendship and the rewards of caring for nature.

While my son loved the aboriginal story of ‘Kondili the Whale’ about the gift of fire. Really my boy seems drawn to any stories about fire! But he also really enjoyed learning about green tree frogs in ‘Froko and Lettuce’. About a little frog who became part of a human family, and how he nearly met a not so happy end!

The romantic whimsy of The Mermaid’s Shoes captured my daughter’s fancy. I could see her imagining herself as a mermaid in the deep blue sea, drawn to the human world by the call of music and dance.

I also really enjoyed the story of the ‘Treasure on the Bridge’, a traditional Japanese story about searching for something that you find was near you all along, but that cannot be found without the journey you take in order to find it. I’m always drawn to stories like this one!

And we all laughed along to The Troo Adventures of Salty Pete the Pirate! Although my lad most certainly had the most fun with these, they did bring a smile to us all *grin*

On the trip home he even wanted to listen to them all again. It’s amazing how kids love to hear the same story over and over. And normally I am very happy to oblige them, but this time in the car we had lots of options so we just kept mixing it up.

Do you use audio stories? What are your favourites?

Happy listening, Kelly

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August 17, 2015 by Kelly